Severe Weather

Crash kills 4, injures 5 on Highway 50

Two children were among four people killed when a car collided with a minivan on Highway 50 in El Dorado County, authorities said.

Five other people were hurt when a Toyota Prius crossed the highway's center line near Placerville on Saturday night and struck a Toyota Sienna minivan "broadside," California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer John Frizzell said.

Three people in the Prius -- Sheng Kun Su, 39, Shu Zhen Zhao, 39, and Shawn Su, 8 -- were killed in the crash, according to the CHP.

A 10-year-old in the car suffered moderate injuries.

The CHP said the girl was released to extended family in the Bay Area.

Nora Elizabeth Temple, 4, who was a passenger in the minivan, was also killed, CHP officials said.

Four others in the Toyota Sienna -- driver Danielle Marie Temple, 35, Will John Temple, 52, and two 1-year-olds suffered minor to moderate injuries.

The CHP said the family was from Placerville.

"We don't know what caused the Prius to cross into oncoming traffic," Frizzell said Sunday. "There's an infinite number of possibilities."

A 16-year-old boy told KCRA 3 he and his sister saw an injured deer nearby following the crash.

"I think it's a high chance of it being connected," said Chris Bodle, who added, the injured buck later limped off.